quotes and themes

• Which character says, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”?


  Three Witches
• In which act and scene does King Duncan say, “What bloody man is that?”


  Act 1 Scene 2
• What do the Witches chant in Act 4 Scene 1?


  “Double, double toil and trouble”
• What does Lady Macduff imply when she says, “When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors”?


  Fear can betray one's loyalty
• Who says, “Blood will have blood”?


  Macbeth
• What does Macbeth mean by “Life’s but a walking shadow”?


  Life is fleeting and insubstantial
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “What’s done cannot be undone”?


  Actions cannot be reversed
• What are some significant themes in Macbeth?

  • Ambition and power
  • Guilt and conscience
  • Fate vs. free will
  • The supernatural
  • The nature of evil
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “unsex me here”?


  She wants to shed feminine weakness
• How does Lady Macbeth's character evolve throughout the play?


  She becomes increasingly guilt-ridden and unstable
• What does Macbeth mean by “I have thee not, and yet I see thee still”?


  He is hallucinating the dagger
• What does the phrase “Out, out, brief candle!” signify in Macbeth?


  Life is short and fragile
• How does the theme of ambition manifest in Macbeth?


  Through Macbeth's desire for power
• What does Macbeth mean by “Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill”?


  Bad actions lead to more wrongdoing
• What is the significance of the Three Witches in Macbeth?


  They foreshadow events and influence Macbeth
• What does the character of Macduff represent in the play?


  Justice and retribution
• How does Shakespeare use the supernatural in Macbeth?


  To influence characters' actions and fate
• How does the setting of Scotland contribute to the play's themes?


  It reflects the turmoil and chaos of ambition
• What role does guilt play in Macbeth's downfall?


  It leads to paranoia and irrational actions
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “Hell is murky”?


  She feels overwhelmed by guilt
• What does the phrase “The raven himself is hoarse” imply?


  It signifies impending doom
• How does Shakespeare portray the concept of masculinity in Macbeth?


  Through the characters' actions and ambitions
• What does Macbeth mean by “I bear a charmed life”?


  He believes he is invincible
• What does the phrase “Come, you spirits” signify in Lady Macbeth's speech?


  Her desire for power and ruthlessness
• How does the motif of blood function in Macbeth?


  It symbolizes guilt and violence
• What does Lady Macbeth say about her milk in her speech?

  She wants it replaced with gall
• How does the character of Macbeth change throughout the play?

  He transforms from a noble hero to a tyrant
• What is the significance of the final act in Macbeth?

  It resolves the conflict and restores order
• What does the phrase “What’s done cannot be undone” imply about Lady Macbeth's character?

  She acknowledges the permanence of their actions
• How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Macbeth?

  Through the Witches' prophecies and visions
• What does Lady Macbeth say about her husband’s nature?

  He is "too full of th' milk of human kindness"
• How does the theme of fate versus free will manifest in Macbeth?

  Through characters' choices influenced by prophecies
• What role does the supernatural play in Macbeth's decisions?

  It drives him to commit heinous acts
• What does Lady Macbeth mean by “I would, while it was smiling in my face”?

  She would kill a child for ambition
• What does the phrase “To prick the sides of my intent” suggest about Macbeth's ambition?

  It indicates his internal conflict and hesitation
• How does the imagery of darkness function in Macbeth?

  It symbolizes evil and moral corruption
• What does Lady Macbeth say about the “fatal entrance of Duncan”?

  It signifies the beginning of their downfall
• How does the character of Banquo contrast with Macbeth?

  Banquo represents loyalty and integrity
• What is the significance of the character of the Doctor in Macbeth?

  He represents the theme of guilt and madness
• What does Macbeth mean by “I dare do all that may become a man”?


  He defines masculinity through courage